Apparatus for applying inking materials



Dec. 22, 1931. w CANHELD 1,837,702

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INKING MATERIALS Filed Dec. 14, 1929 Inventor:

Melville, 14 Oarzfield,

Attorney.

Patented Dec. 22, 1931 LSWJQZ MELVILLE W. GANJFIEL-D, DE LOS ANGELES,CALIFQRNIA,

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LINKING MATmIALS Application filed December 14,1929. Serial No. 41%,144.

In this specification, and the accompanying drawings, I shall describeand show a preferred form of my invention, and specifically mentioncertain of its more important objects.

since various changes and adaptations may be made therein withoutdeparting from the essence of my invention as hereinafter claimed; andobjects and advantages, other than those specifically mentioned, areincluded within its scope.

My invention relates to means for utilizing inking materials thatcontain highly volatile ingredients, such as lacquers. Its principalobjects include: first, to provide improved means for tempering suchmaterials, either continuously or periodically; second, to afford amethod for reducing or preventing volatilization of said ingredients;and, third, to supply simple and relatively inexpensive apparatus foraccomplishing the above purposes.

My objects are attained in the manner illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates a manner of utilizing myinvention, and apparatus therefor in sectional elevation; and,

' Figure 2 is a plan view of the above ap paratus, with certain partsbroken away for convenience of disclosure.

The section of Figure 1 is taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2. Similarreference numerals refer to similar parts throughout both views.

My invention will be found to be particularly useful in connection withthe use of printing materials containing a large proportion of volatileingredients, such as lacquers. In the use of such materials, it often isextremely diflicult or impossible to keep the consistency suitable foruse long enough to make the proper application. Thus if it wereattempted to use lacquers on ordinaryprinting rollers, in the mannerthat ordinary printing ink is now used, the

lacquers would harden upon the surfaces of the rollers before it couldbe applied to the work. Even if acceptable results could be accomplishedin this way, so far as the work all a I do not limit myself to the formsdisclosed,

itself is concerned, the lacquer would harden and gradually build upupon the surface of the rollers, until they ceased to function properly.

In my invention I make use of the principle of keeping the printingmaterial in an atmosphere that is artificially charged with the vaporsof the volatile ingredients of the material, until it is ready forapplication to the work. This not only prevents volatilization, but theprinciple may be extended to provide a method for tempering thematerial.

Passin to a. detailed description of my process, have indicated in thedrawings a method whereby lacquer and similar material may be employed,in lieu of regular printing inks, in ordinary printing operations.

In the drawings I have indicated the opposed ends of the apparatushousing, at 5. These ends are provided with bearin s 6 and 7, rotatablysupportingthe distributing roller 8 and application roller 9respectively. The housing ends 5 are also provided with internal flanges10, to support the shell of the housing. This shell is specially shapedto conform to the outlines of the application roller and to providespace surrounding the distributing roller. It comprises the bottom plate11, and covers 12 and 13.

Above the distributing roller is a material fount 14, of V-shapedcross-section, having a slot 15 atthe bottom extending longitudinallyfrom end to end of the distributing roller.

This fount is supported by end-frames 5 of the housing; and, in turn, itsupports shell covers 12 and 13. These are hinged to the sides of thefount at 16 and 17 respectively. The fount itself is provided with ahinged cover 18.

v A series of nozzles 19 extend through the rightshand side of theshell. These are adapted to direct fan-shaped sprays 20 against thesurface of distributing roller 8, so as to produce as nearly as possiblea uniform efi'ect thereon. I prefer to operate such sprays by means ofcompressed air supplied through pipe 21 and branch pipes 22.. In suchcase there is a valve 23 in each of the branch pipes,

for individual regulation of the nozzle sup-- plied thereby; and a valve24 in the main air line, for regulation of all of the nozzles as a set.These spray devices take their liquid supply, through suction pipes 25,from a reservoir 26.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows Printingmaterial, such as lacquer in a liquid or semi-liquid form, is introducedinto the fount 14, as shown at 27 Gravity feeds this downwardly upondistributing roller 8, which is immediately below slot of the fount. Thedistributing roller is rotated by any suitable means, as by the pulley28; and

' ing, as indicated in the drawings at 29, and

an inking roller or equivalent device (indicated by dotted lines 30) canbe pressed thereagainst to transfer the printing material from surfaceof roller 9 to the work.

Since the rollers 8 and 9 are almostcompletely enclosed in the mannerdescribed, sprays 20 may be operatedinsuch a manner as to maintainan'atmosphere surrounding the rollers that-is practically saturated withthe vapors of the volatile ingredients contained in the printingmaterial. This being the case, there is very little tendency for theprinting material to change its consistency because of its being spreadover the surfaces of the rollers. However, the left-hand side of roller9 is exposed to the air, and evaporation from this portion of thesurface is uncompensated otherwise than by the impingement of sprays 20directly upon the material,

while upon the distributing roller.

It will be obvious that the above apparatus can be so adj usted as tomaintain a practically constant consistency of the printing material atthe point 29 of the application roller, where it is delivered forprinting purposes.

. Valves 23 are adapted to maintain a proper adjustment of the operatingrelationship between spray nozzles 19; and valve 24 may be ad usted, soas to maintain constant the whole amount of spray. introduced into thecasing. This valve may either be hand-adjusted, so as to maintain acontinuous performance of nozzles 19; or the operation of the nozzlesmay be made intermittent by means of an automatic valve, (not shown);Such a valve could be connected tothe operating mechamsm in any suitableway adapted to produce the result desired. It could replace valve 24, orbe installed in series therewith.

The liquid contained in reservoir 26 is a mixture, in properproportions, of the volatile ingredients contained in material 27.

Having thus fully described my invention, in a manner that will bereadily understood by those familiar with the art involved, I claim 1.Apparatus of the character described, comprising; a substantially closedhousing having a straight parallel-sided aperture therethrough; anexternally rotatable distributing roller within the housing; a rotatableapplication roller within the housing opposite the aperture and closelyadjacent thereto; means for feeding viscous material upon the peripheryof the distributing roller; and means for keeping the atmosphere withinthe housing charged with vapors of the volatile constituents of saidmaterial; the

axes of said rollers being parallel to each I other and to the sides ofsaid aperture; and the peripheries of the rollers being normally incontact, whereby the application roller may be rotated by thedistributing roller. A

2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising; a substantiallyclosed housing having a straight parallel-sided aperture therethrough;an externally rotatable distributing roller within the housing; a.rotatable application roller within the housing opposite the apertureand closely adjacent thereto; means for feeding viscous material uponthe periphery .of the distributing roller; and means for sprayingvolatile liquid constitutents of said' material into said housing; theaxes of said rollers being parallel to each other and to the sides ofsaid aperture; and the peripheries of the rollers being normally incontact throughout their length, whereby the application roller may uponthe periphery of the distributing roller; and means for spraying liquidsolvents of said material into said housing'and against the periphery ofthe distributing roller; the axes of said rollers being parallel to eachother and to the sides of said aperture; and the peripheries of therollers being normally in contact throughout their length, whereby theapplication roller may be rotated by frictional engagement with thedistributing roller.

I MELVILLE W. CANFIELD.

